Game apparatus.



P. 1. McCULLOUGH GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5. I915- .Patented Mar; 7, 1916.

-FQHS Ill SOUTH l/VI/E/VTOR BY j w amvsrs WITNESSES PAUL JAMES McCULLOUG-H, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed October 5, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL J. MCCUL- LOUGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Game Ap Jaratus, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a game apparatus including a board and a mobile device optionally movable over the board in any direction.

Features of the board and its appurtenances and the mobile device are of a nature to require a player to direct the device by a limited number of movements over the surface of the board from an optionally designated starting point over a designated route to a particular selected destination, there being appurtenant to the board impediment pins adapted to be variously positioned adjacent to the starting point and between the same and the point of destination, to limit the directions and movement that may be imparted to the mobile device in routing its course to the point of destination. The board presents a plotted surface defining various locations and at two sides of the board at right angles, rows of symbols, such as numbers and letters, are produced designating intersecting lines at the plotted locations.

The invention will be particularly explained in the specific description following.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding part-s in all the views. j

Figure 1 is a plan view of a game apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the mobile device forming part of the apparatus, the view indicating a portion of the board and an impediment pin: Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the mobile device; and Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of said mobile device.

In carrying out my invention a board 10, is provided of any suitable material, the surface of which is divided by intersecting straight lines into plots 11.v The different sides of the board are designated preferably, north. south, east and west, so that the lines may have definite directions. Also, there is along the north or south side of the board, a longitudinal series of symbols such as numbers, which may be designated as' repre;

Specification of Letters Patent.

wheeled steering post.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Serial No. 54,168.

senting streets and similarly, at the east or west, is a longitudinal series of letters or numbers representing streets so that the said longitudinal lines and numbers will designate intersecting lines at the various plots 11. I

A mobile device 12, is provided which may crudely simulate an automobile in that it is provided with running wheels and a p The wheels 13, may be secured to the sides by screws 13, or otherwise. The steering post 14, is mounted to turn in a vertical through-bore near the front of the mobile device 12, and at its lower end it has a wheel 15, which serves as a steering wheel, upon the turning of the post 14, in either direction. The wheels 15, are mounted on an axle pin 16, which extends through and beyond the steering post 14, at each side, the said axle pin preferably extending to the sides of the device 12, and being permitted movement in the turning of the post 14, by reason of a horizontal slot 17, near the base of said device 12 at the front. To limit the angle through which the steering post 11-, may turn, I provide adjustable stop means which may consist of screws 18, in the body of the device 12, and at the inner end of the slot- 17 Advantageously the screws 18, are oblique to the longitudinal axis of the device 12, so as to be reached by a screw driver or the like for turning the said screws whereby to cause them to projectmore or less and thereby vary the extent of movement of the axle 16, and steering post 11.

An observation or peep-hole 19, is pro vided extending vertically through the mobile device 12, so that when said device is rolled over the board, the player may sight the different locations indicated on the board. There are provided also, impediment pins 20, in any desired number, and these are adapted to be entered into the board to stand upright at any given vertical or horizontal street lines.

In practice, if it be assumed, for instance, that the board represents certain street sections, a section of a townor city, the intersection of two streets may be given as a starting point as indicated by the dotted line as at 21, Fig. 1. Similarly, a point of destination distant from the starting point may be optionally selected on the surface of the board as indicated at The impediment pins will first have been placed in predetermined positions and the task will be assigned the player to avoid the impediment pins and in a ven number of moves, locate or park the mobile device 12, in a position so that the destination point will appear through the observation opening 19.

The game may be made to involve the diiiiculties of steering an automobile with precision and therefore give practical results other than the mere playing of the game. If the surface of the board be assumed, for instance, as representing the floor of a freight car in which the mobile device 12, has been shipped, it will simulate the actual movements to be given an automobile when the player is required to reach a given destination on the board in a given number of moves.

In playing the game a move -consists of a continuous movement of the mobile de vice 12 with the wheels revolving in'one direction, that is, without reversing. So long as the mobile device is steered to go straight ahead, or to the right or left, the travel of the mobile device constitutes but a single move. The move will be completed and another one started whenever the mobile device is arrested and a. movement imparted thereto with the wheels revolving in the reverse direction from the previous move.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An apparatus of the character de scribed, including a board presenting a plotted surface defining various locations and marginal symbols' designating intersecting lines at the plotted locations, a mobile device optionally and freely movable over the surface of the board in any direction, said devicebeing of a size to cover a plurality of the plotted locations and indicated intersections on the board, and impediment pins engageable with the board and adapted to be optionally positioned thereon at any of the various indicated intersections to variously intervene between a given starting point and a selected destination.

2. An apparatus of the character described, including a board presenting a plotted surface defining various locations and marginal symbols designating intersecting lines at the plotted locations, a mobile device optionally and freely movable over the surface of the board in any direction, said mobile device having steering means and beingof a size to cover a plurality of the plotted locations and indicated intersections on the board, said device having an observation opening extending therethrough from topto bottom, and impediment pins adapted to be optionally positioned at any of the various indicated intersections to variously intervene between a given start ing point and a selected destination.

3. An apparatus of the character described, including a board presenting a plotted surface defining various locations and marginal symbols designating intersecting lines at the plotted locations, a mobile device optionally and freely movable over the surface of the board in any direction, said device being of a size 'to cover a plurality of the plotted locations and indicated intersections on the board, and impediment pins engageable with the board and adapted to be optionally positioned thereon at any of the various indicated in: tersections to variously intervene between a given starting point and a selected destination, the said mobile device having a steering post provided with a running wheel, and stop means to limit the angle through which the steering post may be turngd and thus increase or decrease the diiiiculties of a route to a particular destination.

4. An apparatus of the character described, including a board presenting a plotted surface defining various locations and marginal symbols designating intersecting lines at the plotted locations, a mobile device optionally and freely movable over the surface of the board in any direction, said device being of a size to cover a plurality of the plotted locations and indicated intersections on the board, and impediment pins engageable with the board and adapted to be optionally positioned thereon at any of the various indicated intersections to variously intervene between a given starting point and a selected destination, the said mobile device having a steering post and adjustable stop means therefor, whereby to increase or decrease the difiiculties of moving the device to a particular destination, and there being an observation opening extending vertically through the said device to bring into view from the top of the device indicated locations and intersections on the board.

5. In a, game apparatus, a mobile device adapted to be employed with a board or the like and moved over the surface thereof, said device having steering means and having an observation opening extending through the same to bring into view from the top of the device successive portions of the surface over which the device is moved.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL JAMES MOCULLOUGH.

Witnesses:

ANNA H. PFEIFER, MARY E. SOLAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

